?syrinx vs prominent central canal - thoracic spine

[jpurple]

Selma always tells us to get our reports and I do.  So i'm rereading my mri of Tspine from 2007 and it says " there is a thin linear high signal density structure along the central aspect of the thoracic cord that i believe most likey just represents a prominent central canal rather than syrinx"  so what does that mean?  I also have osteoarthritis with spurs throughout the spine.

Anybody have this conflicting info on a MRI before?  I was 35 when it was taken.  

[jpurple]

A friend of mine works at a radiology center and she said if you ask to talk to the "radiologist" to see your films they will let you, but the tech can't.  The radiologists don't like to do this, but if you ask and are persistent I think they have to, at this one center anyways (we are in NY).  I agree with your frustration, its like they don't want to have to deal with us, ugh.

[LisaM46]

Hi all,
My computer's been "in the shop" for about a week, just got back on!  Jpurple!  I have a residual central canal (also called hydromyelia) of the cervical and upper thoractic cord.  My NS explained to me that we all have it as we develop in-utero, and by the time we're about 10 years old, it is supposed to dissipate.  Mine did not.  He also told me it has always been there, and it won't change or cause me any harm.  (Much preferable to SM!  I was initially dx'd with SM by the orthopedic office.)

I have some of my mri's posted on my page, if you want, feel free to take a look & compare to what yours looks like.  You can definitely see it in the cervical slices.  Long & slit-like.

In case you're interested, google Dr. Ulrich Batzdorf, MD, and his CM & SM Handbook for Patients and their Families.  It's very informative.  Let me know if you have trouble locating it.

Hope this helps.

Lisa

[Spaceystac]

35% of asymptomatic people have degenerative changes on radiology imaging. Based on these statistical findings, radiologist choose to not note these findings in reports unless a person has severe enough changes early enough to be "remarkable". They do this to keep the patient from getting "unnecessary worry". If they feel the findings are not severe enough to be causing the patients symptoms, they have the choice to not note it. And then a patient is left in mystery pain because the report tells the doctor that the images are normal!      I dont think they should get paid to give their opinion. It should just be simple as the images, black and white.   One doctor says DDD the other says disk disease, it should be more standardized and executed with professionalism, not opinionated cocky doctors calling your syrinx "tiny" like it is insignificant .  
There are similar statistics found in Chiari patients so it seems like most radiologists want to assume everyone is part of the tiny percentage asymptomatic patients. In many scenario's, the radiologist might even think the patient has already been informed of findings, due to findings being previously noted, (no, bone spurs dont disappear).    

I am just so furious with the way things are done in this industry, It is very disturbing to me and it makes me want to go back to college and be a radiologist but I know I will get in there and be even more frustrated.     I have noticed that most doctors dont even know how to look at x-rays anymore these days, who can we sit down with to go over these damn images with us than?   I asked the X-ray tech one time if I could look and they said they are not allowed to show you your images....but you can go get a disk and take it home and look at them your self?  Sorry, I am just sooo mad!  

[*Stormy*]

Every report I get is different from the last one...it's crazy....

I see something on one report and then it's not even mentioned on the next one. Which is why it is so important to get copies of the reports and question them!!!!

My Chiari wasn't even mentioned on my first MRI and they were looking for a reason for why I couldn't walk properly...I couldn't believe they would miss something like that.

No, these things don't go away so you can bet you still have the issues.

Good luck
Carolyn

[rod44]

You have heard the saying, doctors differ patients die.

bone spurs and osteoarthritis dont go away without treatment, osteoarthritis is a degenerative illness.......

It sounds like they are unsure about just what is going on with you.

[jpurple]

Thank you for all of the replies, and I'm glad I saved my reports.  Rod44 great info and this has helped me so much.

They did do a follow up one in 2008 and it just has 2 sentences and says essentially unremarkable!  does not mention the bone spurs which i assume don't go away, or the osteoarthrosis which i also didn't think would just disappear.  All it says is subtle loss of signal mid  thoracic discs.  Can you believe the difference in radiologists?  Same company, but 2 different imaging centers so 2 different radiologists read these, omg.  can bone spurs and osteoarthrosis go away?

[rod44]

This may be of interest to you :)

This Doctor dose not accept the concept of a central canal.....

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Neurology/Syrinx-of-cervicle-spinal-cord/show/293074

[rod44]

The thoracic spine is the narrowest part of the spine, bone spurs can Cause a split in the cord. the cord develops around the spur causing what is a "Split Cord Syndrome" or Malformation. There is some evidence of links between Split Cord &  tethered cord syndrome. Bone spurs can compress the cord causing problems.....

In your report they talk about a prominent central canal V a Syrinx.
For the first few months of life the center of the Spinal cord is hollow, it eventually closes. Some Doctors argue that it dose not close completely and this is why a Syrinx develops, the CSF enters the center that was hollow and forms a cyst. Either way it is an abnormality that needs to be explained.  

Ray

[*Stormy*]

Just taking a stab at it...but from what I understand is that your spinal canal has been widened due to the pressure but hasn't actually formed a pooling of fluids (syrinx). Though I think if you have the one, it can be a good indicator that you most likely will have the other sooner or later.

I found this:
Presyrinx." In the setting of altered CSF flow, as with a Chiari I malformation, fluid in the subarachnoid space is subjected to increased pressure (thick vertical arrow). Net CSF flow is into the spinal cord parenchyma; however, because the central canal is not patent,  fluid cannot accumulate within the central canal and, therefore, diffuses through the cord parenchyma (stippled area), resulting in cord enlargement and edema.
Hopefully that helps??

Carolyn

PS (parenchyma is the essential tissue of an organ/structure)

[selmaS]

Hi...I may be wrong, but it sounds like ur spinal cord itself is larger in that area.....y, I have no idea.....there r some that have a split in them causing something similar to this

RAY.....where r u....u have something like that??? It is possible to have a syrinx with in the canal.....

Is this similar?

Sorry, I just added to ur questions : )

"selma"